Water dispenser



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,560

D. EBINGER WATER DISPENSER Filed Nov. 11, 1927 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,702,560 PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. EBINGEB, OI COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE D. A. EBINGER SANITARY MPG. 00., O! COLUMBUS, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WATER DISPENSER.

Application filed November 11, 1927. Serial No. 232,697.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensers and is specifically directed to a mechanically refrigerated apparatus employed for the purpose of dispensing cooled drinking water, the same being useful inconnection with oflice buildings, factories, schools and other locations where relativel large quantities of drinking water are required.

An outstanding object of the invention resides in the PIOVlSlOIl of a water dispensing unit of this character wherein the casing of the unit is formed to include spaced upper and lower compartments, the upper compartment being adapted for the reception of refrigeration apparatus together with appropriately arranged water receiving and cooling coils, together with the liquid refrigerant used in connection with such apparatus, while the lower of said compartment is formed to include a receptacle for receiving waste water leading from the drinking faucet receptor, the construction providing for an exceedingly compact arrangement of the apparatus, using but a minimum of floor space, together with features preventing overflow of water on the floor surrounding the unit to the end that the device may be maintained in a proper operating position, irrespective of its location, in a cleanly and sanitary manner and without likelihood of disorder.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a drinking unit of the character set forth which may be employed in connection with bottled drinking water or in connection with the water supply obtained from city mains or the like.

A further object resides in constructing the apparatus so that the various parts thereof may be compactly grouped and situated within a single cabinet of such dimensions as to require but a minimum of floor space.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of. elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the improved liquid dispenser comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the'line 22 of Figure 1.

the dispenser, which is generally of cubical or bog: like form possessing preferably greater hel ht than width. The casing is formed to include a base portion 2, in which is confined the usual electrical motor and compressor unit 3, commonly shown in connectlon with mechanical refrigerating appara tus. Above the base portion of the casing, the latter is provided with a double walled housing which consists of inner and outer metalliowalls between which is confined insulat1on 1n the form of cork board or the like for the purpose of minimizing heat transfer between the interior of the upper part of the casing and the atmosphere.

The insulated upper part of the casing is divided lnternally by means of the walls 4-4 into upper and lower compartments 5 and 6 respectively. The upper compartment is adapted to receive the boiler unit 7 of the mechanical refrigeration apparatus. It will be understood that the units 7 may be any one of several different forms now in general use. In this instance, however, the unit has been depicted as consistin of a boiler caslng 8, which is surrounded hy means of a co l 9 through which sulphur dioxide (S0 is circulated. The tubes 10 employed for transmitting the sulphur dioxide to and from the unit 3 to the unit 7 pass through a vertical pipe 11 which establishes communicatlon between the upper part of the compartment 5 and the apparatus situated within the base 2. The pipe 11 terminates in the upper part of the compartment 5 in order to be above the liquid level of the brine, water or other refrigerant used in the compartment 5. Pipe joints are maintained around the tubes 10 where the latter passes through the walls 44 in order to prevent the lower compartment 6 from being filled with the refrigerant contained in the upper compartment. The boiler unit rests upon the upper of the walls 4 and is preferably centra ly situated within the upper compartment. The unit 7 may be provided with the usual thermostat 12, which is submerged ordinarily in the liquid refrigerant so that as the temperature of the latter changes the operation of the mechanical refrigerating apparatus may be governed automatically in accordance therewith.

Entering the stationary sections 13 of the top of the casing 1 is a water inlet pipe 14:. In this instance the pipe 14 has its upper end provided with a fixe funnel 15, which extends above the plane of the top 13, the said funnel being adapted to receive the neck of an inverted water containing bottle 16. The latter may be of the usual type found in the dis nsing and handling of distilled, spring an other types of drinking water. In the event the apparatus is not employed in connection with bottled drinking water the pipe 14 is formed with an extension 17, which may be connected with a pipe leading from a source of water supply (not shown) such as a city water main. In this manner the apparatus is adaptable without material alteration in construction or design to water supplies of various kinds.

The bottom of the pipe 14 is connected with a plurality of coils 18 through which the drinking water is circulated. The coils 18 are arranged Within the compartment 5 so as to be submerged in the liquid refrigerant and in this manner the temperature of the water may be suitably lowered through heat interchange to render the water suitable for ordinary drinking requirements. The lower end of the coil 18 is connected with a vertically extending pipe 19 which terminates at its upper end in a horizontally directed flange 20, which passes through one of the walls of the compartment 5 and terminates exteriorly of the casing in a control valve or faucet 21.

Arranged immediately below the faucet 21 and carried stationarily by the outer wall of the casing is a receptor or. basin 22, which is capable of receiving a drinking glass or the like, as indicated at 23, and to also receive the waste water or dripping from the faucet. The bottom of the receptor or basin is provided with an outlet conduit 24, which extends through the front wall of the casing and terminates within the lower compartment 6. This compartment acts to receive the drip or waste water and prevents the same from accumulating on the flooring around the casing and, moreover, provides an internal waste water receptacle which is concealed from exterior view. The compartment 6 is provided at its lower end with an exteriorly extending outlet valve 25, by means of which the lower compartment may be drained when necessar and to prevent the water from overflowing liy way of the receptor.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a drinking water dispenser of exceedingly compact yet efficient form. The cardinal feature of the invention resides in a cabinet wherein a chemical refrigeration may be utilized and yet to provide a construction which will overcome the disadvantages as to excessive size which has heretofore been largely entered against dispensers of this character. It is also equally important to provide an eflicient unit for this purpose and to render the same adaptable to water supplies of different forms.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanically refrigerated liquid dispenser, comprising a casing formed to include Vertically disposed base, drain and refrigerating compartments, the walls of the refrigerating compartment being formed from heat insulating material, a motor and compressor unit disposed in the base compartment, a cooling unit in the refrigerating com artment, a liquid circulating coil in the refrigerating compartment, said coil having the inlet end thereof connected with a source of water supply, an exteriorly arranged valve controlled outlet for said coil, a receptor arranged exteriorly of said casing below said outlet, and a conduit extending from said receptor into said drain compartment.

2. A mechanically refrigerated liquid dispenser, comprisinga casing formed to include vertically arranged base, drain and refrigerating compartments, the walls of said refrigerating compartments being formed from a heat insulating material, a motor and compressor unit disposed in. the base compartment, a cooling unit in the refrigerating compartment, a conduit passing vertically between said base,'drain and refrigerating compartments through which the connections between the motor and compressor units and the cooling unit are adapted to pass, said conduits terminating contiguous to the upper part of said refrigerating compartment, a liquid circulating coil in the refrigerating compartment having the inlet end thereof connected with a source of water supply, an exteriorly arranged discharge faucet for said coil, a receptor arranged exteriorly of said casing and below said faucet, a conduit situated between said receptor and said drain compartment, and an outlet valve disposed in connection with the bottom of said drain said coil being connected with a source of water supply and the outlet end thereof being connected with a discharge faucet disposed exteriorly of the casing, a receptor arranged beneath said discharge faucet, and a drain connection between said faucet and said drain compartment, there being a valve controlled outlet'in the bottom of said drain compartment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' DAVID H. EBINGER. 

